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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
This is definitely the most conflicted I have felt about any of Abercrombie's books. Truthfully, I wasn't interested in the slightest for around the first third or so of the book. I felt very bogged down with the amount of perspectives early on, but that soon paid off for the most part. I believe that this book does sadly mark the first time any of the pov characters in the First Law world did not blow me away. Each character from the union honestly fell flat (except for my queen Finree). I was so excited to read from Gorst's perspective, but it seemed like a very muddled attempt to draw the similar ideas of self-dread that was shown by Glokta in the original trilogy. Although I did enjoy the small conflict at the end that he had with Shivers, I just wish more came of it (maybe something will idk).
What really carried this book for me though was the Northman. Calder is genuinely one of my favorite character's in this world now. He is such a smug little dbag that shouldn't deserve to succeed but does but he is just so awesome. The growth and rise of Black Dow was so awesome that his fall hit even harder. Craw was an astoundingly interesting character to me. He seemed to be written in a way to keep the slightest bit of hope alive that some of these men in the North could lay down their swords and stop fighting, but that of course doesn't happen. On the final page of the book, after begging to retire, to get his house in the valley, and finally getting it, he realizes the only time he was alive was when there was a sword in his hand. A tragic character for me. Beck was also fantastic, a stark contrast to Craw. A young man whose father was a great fighter, excited to live up to his name, enters into battle. That's where he realizes it is hell. In the end though, he does what no other Northman has been able to do in this entire series. He lays down his sword. Written so simply, but the chapter he returns home was so sadly beautiful. Finally, I have to highlight my favorite character in the whole series, Shivers. Coming off his heart-wrenching story in Best Served Cold, he has fully sunken into exactly what he had tried to run from. A man that sees no other point to his life besides taking others. I am really hoping he may get more appearances in a later book to flesh his character out even more, he is too good not to.
Every sword's a curse, boy
What really carried this book for me though was the Northman. Calder is genuinely one of my favorite character's in this world now. He is such a smug little dbag that shouldn't deserve to succeed but does but he is just so awesome. The growth and rise of Black Dow was so awesome that his fall hit even harder. Craw was an astoundingly interesting character to me. He seemed to be written in a way to keep the slightest bit of hope alive that some of these men in the North could lay down their swords and stop fighting, but that of course doesn't happen. On the final page of the book, after begging to retire, to get his house in the valley, and finally getting it, he realizes the only time he was alive was when there was a sword in his hand. A tragic character for me. Beck was also fantastic, a stark contrast to Craw. A young man whose father was a great fighter, excited to live up to his name, enters into battle. That's where he realizes it is hell. In the end though, he does what no other Northman has been able to do in this entire series. He lays down his sword. Written so simply, but the chapter he returns home was so sadly beautiful. Finally, I have to highlight my favorite character in the whole series, Shivers. Coming off his heart-wrenching story in Best Served Cold, he has fully sunken into exactly what he had tried to run from. A man that sees no other point to his life besides taking others. I am really hoping he may get more appearances in a later book to flesh his character out even more, he is too good not to.
Every sword's a curse, boy
adventurous
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Got 20% in and I couldn’t even tell you who the main characters were. Just didn’t care about them at all.
The kind of story you can expect from Abercrombie. Getting back the north and the named men was great. I'd love a whole series of books about a dozen of named men.